DOLE Offers Over 5,000 SPES Slots for Region 1 Beneficiaries

Poor but deserving students and out-of-school youths (OSY) who are willing to engage in summer jobs can now submit their application requirements as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 1 now offers around 5,000 slots for the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

Panfilo Dioquino, labor communications officer of DOLE-Central Pangasinan, said the program is open to all indigent students and out-of-school youths aged 15 to 30 years old who are willing to work and pursue their education.

“Itong taon po na ito, inaasahan po natin na hindi bababa sa 5,000 ang open na slots sa buong Region 1. Samantala sa DOLE-Central Pangasinan, meron po tayong hindi bababa sa 510 na slots o target na mga bata na maaaring maging benepisyaryo ng programa,” said Dioquino.

Dioquino said interested applicants may submit copies of the following requirements to any DOLE office in their province or Public Employment and Service Office (PESO) in their municipalities: birth certificate, certificate of indigency, grades from the previous semester or school year, and certificate of good moral character issued by their Barangay Council for the out-of-school youth.

“Hindi lang po ito para sa kasalukuyang mga mag-aaral, tumatanggap din po tayo ng mga OSY na nais mag-aral for the school year 2018-2019 dahil ang layunin po ng programa ay matulungan ang mga poor but deserving na kabataan para sila ay makapagpatuloy o makabalik sa pag-aaral,” he said during the “Pantongtongan Tayo” radio program of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) – Pangasinan aired on Tuesday.

Dioquino said the department will shoulder the 40 percent of the salary while the 60 percent will be paid by the partner local government unit (LGU), agency, or company where the student chooses to render his or her services.

“Tamang-tama, since nagkaroon po ng pagtaas sa minimum wage rate effective noong January 25, aasahan po ng mga magiging SPES beneficiaries natin na ang kanilang makukuhang salary ay base din po sa bagong prevailing na minimum wage rate sa Region 1,” he added.

Likewise, Dioquino encouraged all interested applicants to visit any DOLE offices or PESO offices near them for additional information about the SPES program.

He said in Pangasinan, DOLE offices are located in Dagupan City (Central Pangasinan), Alaminos City (Western Pangasinan), and Rosales town (Eastern Pangasinan).